PHOENIX (Oct. 16, 2025) – Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center has opened enrollment for a Phase II clinical trial for a first-of-its-kind, double-loaded autologous dendritic cell therapy for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma.
Despite decades of research, glioblastoma remains a complex cancer for patients and physicians alike, with median survival of 14-16 months after diagnosis. Now experts are studying a cell therapy at Banner MD Anderson that represents a novel strategy for engaging a complete immune response against a patient’s cancer.
“Most research on glioblastoma therapeutics have focused on common single targets, but everyone’s tumor is different. So, we aimed to make a personalized therapeutic for each patient based on their tumor, which teaches their body’s immune system to target the full compliment of tumor antigens,” said neurosurgeon Joseph Georges, DO, PhD, of Banner MD Anderson.
Dr. Georges has worked for a decade with immunologist William Decker, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and Diakonos Oncology on the development of personalized immunotherapies for the treatment of glioblastoma. Neuroncologist Ramya Tadipatri, MD, of Banner MD Anderson will lead this study on the cell-based immunotheraputic DOC1021, also known as Dubodencel.
This study follows a Phase I trial with this approach for glioblastoma. In the first phase, personalized therapeutics were created by removing a piece of a patient’s tumor via surgery. After receiving the standard of care, the patient received three doses of activated immune cells over a six-week period. Phase I findings demonstrated a favorable safety profile and encouraging signs of efficacy, with a 12-month overall survival rate of 88% -- substantially higher than the approximate 60% typically seen with standard of care. Notably, four patients remain alive at 22 to 33 months of follow-up.
Phase II will take two to three years, with plans for following up on each patient long after the trial. There has been a strong demand by many hospital systems to participate in this trial. Twenty sites around the country have been selected to start enrolling for Phase II.
“We are delighted to offer access to this cutting edge clinical trial in our community that may provide a new treatment option for patients with glioblastoma,” said Nicholas Theodore, MD, MS, chairman of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix’s department of neurosurgery at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, which is one of the enrolling sites for Banner.
Dr. Decker praised the participation of Banner MD Anderson noting, “We’re extremely fortunate to have garnered interest from such an expert and high volume center like Banner.”
Mike Wicks, chief executive officer of Diakonos Oncology, added, “We’re proud to partner with Banner
MD Anderson, an institution known for clinical excellence and innovation, and grateful for the vision of Dr. Georges and Dr. Decker, and the dedication of our passionate team at Diakonos Oncology. As a cancer survivor, I’m inspired by the potential of this personalized immunotherapy to change outcomes for glioblastoma patients.”
Most newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients are eligible to participate in the trial, said Dr. Georges, who is also an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix. To learn more, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06805305?term=doc1021&rank=1.
About Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center delivers cancer care to patients through the partnership of Banner Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner MD Anderson offers focused disease-specific expertise in the medical, radiation and surgical management of the cancer patient; an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to patient care; access to clinical trials and new investigative therapies; state-of-the-art technology for the diagnosis, staging and treatment of all types of cancer; oncology expertise in supportive care services. For more information, visit www.BannerMDAnderson.com.
About Diakonos Oncology Corporation
Based in Houston, Diakonos Oncology Corp. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to revolutionizing cancer immunotherapy with its proprietary double-loaded, patient-derived dendritic cell therapeutic platform focused on addressing the critical, unmet medical need for treatment of late-state and aggressive cancers. For more information visit: https://www.diakonosoncology.com.
For further information contact us at: [email protected]